Looking for some ways to save money that work for parents? Here are some tips to consider.
Living within your means is one of the secrets to managing your finances. With prices constantly on the rise, it’s never been more important to make your bank account balance. Below we look at five things you can do to help keep your finances in check and to spend less than you earn.
Make and Stick to a Budget
Making and sticking to a budget is always the number one tip and for good reason. If you don’t know how much income you have and how much you need to pay out, how are you ever going to balance the books? And yet, many people have never taken the time to get it all down on paper – or spreadsheet. Putting it all down in black and white will give you a clear picture of your financial commitments. This information can then be used as a guide to keep track of your income and expenditure and see if and where savings can be made. And if you fall off the budgeting wagon, you will always have this hard copy to go back to and get yourself back on track before you do real damage to your finances.
Find Ways to Lower Your Expenses
One way to make your money go further is to reduce your regular expenses. Take a look at your monthly payments. Is there something you can do without altogether? Do you really need more than one entertainment package? Do you have subscriptions or memberships that you never use? Are there savings to be made on your loan payments? Can you take advantage of an Earnest student loan refinance option to lower your monthly expenses? Is it worth contacting your internet provider to see if you can negotiate a discount? There may be many areas where you can reduce the cost of regular payments or even do without some services completely.
Make Packed Lunches for You and Your Kids
Making your kids a packed lunch for school is a simple way to both save money and avoid food waste. Rather than pay for school lunches, you can pack up their favorite things and ensure that they get a healthy balanced meal. You could also make up a lunch for yourself and your partner. It can be something as simple as last night’s leftovers, or you can plan a weekly menu. Taking your own lunch is usually much cheaper than buying it. Plus, you get to choose exactly what you want to eat.
Forget About the Brands
Whether it’s groceries or clothing, many of us prefer to buy from brands that we know. However, unbranded items or generic store brands can be just as good and much cheaper. By forgetting about the brands, you’ll get to purchase what you need at an affordable price and your overall spend will be less.
Use Discounts, Promo Codes, and Coupons
Who doesn’t love a bargain? Many stores offer discounts, promo codes and coupons so take advantage of them. It doesn’t make sense to pay full price for an item when you know that if you wait a couple of weeks; you’re likely to receive a discount code. Sign up for emails for stores that you use regularly and watch them come flooding in. Just don’t be tempted to spend more than you would normally just to get a discount.